Abstract

Autistic youth are at elevated risk for developing co-occurring anxiety symptoms (Zaboski & Storch, 2018), which are shown to be related to restricted, repetitive behaviors (RRBs; Rogers et al., 2012). Despite similar rates of autism in Latinx as in non-Latinx White youth, limited research has been conducted in the Latinx population. Participants were autistic youth and youth with developmental delays (DD; N = 199, Mage = 4.98 years, Latinx = 66.3%, Male = 66.3%) from two larger randomized controlled trials investigating parenting stress. Child anxiety was measured via the Spence Anxiety Scales total anxiety T-scores. RRBs were measured via Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised subscales: stereotyped, self-injurious, compulsive, ritualistic/sameness, and restricted interests. On average, autistic youth had significantly higher severity for stereotyped RRBs and restricted interests than youth with DD, controlling for age, intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) status, and primary language (ps < .001). Within the autistic sample, anxiety T-scores were significantly, positively correlated with all RRB subtypes (ps < .01). Autistic Latinx youth had significantly higher severity for ritualistic/sameness RRBs (p = .002), and restricted interests (p = .036) compared to their non-Latinx counterparts. However, identifying as Latinx did not significantly strengthen the relationship between anxiety and RRB subtypes (ps > .05). Our findings highlight the importance of analyzing RRB subtypes individually to clarify nuanced RRB presentation between cultural groups and youth with autism and DD. Given the strong relationship between anxiety and RRBs, clinicians should address anxiety symptoms when targeting RRBs and vice versa, and future studies should determine whether this relationship is bidirectional.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, restricted repetitive behaviors, child internalizing behaviors, child anxiety, developmental delays

LLU Discipline

Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

School of Behavioral Health

First Advisor

Cameron L. Neece

Second Advisor

Laura Lee McIntyre

Third Advisor

Aarti Nair

Fourth Advisor

Catherine M. Sanner

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2027

Date (Title Page)

8-2027

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Autism in children; Autistic children—Psychology; Anxiety in children; Compulsive behavior in children; Stereotyped behavior in children; Hispanic American children—Mental health; Child psychology—Cross-cultural studies; Developmentally disabled children—Psychology

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

ix, 57 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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